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From YouTube: COSEBOC 12th Annual Gathering of Leaders
Description
The 12th Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC) Gathering of Leaders conference is centered on the theme of "Boys and Young Men of Color: Liberated, Empowered, and Educated." Mayor Walsh, Reverend Liz Walker, Superintendent Chang, and more celebrate the passage these liberated, empowered, and educated boys to becoming men.
A
C
C
C
B
D
I
am
honored
and
humbled
to
be
here
to
welcome
you
officially
to
this
gathering
of
leaders
conference
and
just
to
talk
about
our
young
men
and
all
their
promises.
This
is
going
to
be
a
fabulous
event.
It
already
is
because
I'm
told
there
are
800
of
you
here
so
give
yourselves
a
big
hand,
because
that's
do.
D
D
But
I
am
the
mother
of
two
sons:
one
by
birth,
the
other
by
marriage.
One
is
successful
and
seems
on
the
right
track.
The
other
is
struggling
to
find
himself
I
care
deeply
for
both
of
them
and
I
will
do
everything
I
can
to
support
them,
and
that
is
the
way
I
feel
this
morning.
Our
young
people
need
our
support.
You
know
when
I
was
growing
up,
my
mother
as
she
grew
older.
She
was
a
schoolteacher
and,
as
she
grew
older
and
and
and
and
kind
of
got
her
mind
started
wandering
a
bit.
D
We
would
walk
through
the
city
of
Little,
Rock
Arkansas,
where
I
was
born
and
she
would
see
a
kid
any
kid
and
she
said:
didn't
I
teach
you
and
I
got
embarrassed
how
she
didn't
teach
all
these
people
she
saw,
but
now
I
know
what
she
meant,
because
all
of
these
young
people
belong
to
us.
They
are
ours
at
least
for
now
we
may
not
have
birthed
them,
but
we
have
a
responsibility
to
support
them,
to
encourage
them
to
pray
for
them.
D
So
I'm,
just
as
proud
as
any
mama
would
be
this
morning
to
see
all
these
young
men
stand
up
and
go
through
this
rite
of
passage
because
it
takes
all
of
us
to
help
them
get
where
they
are
going.
I
want
to
make
sure
that
we
get
off
to
a
right
start,
and
so,
if
you
don't
mind
I'm
going
to
suggest,
we
all
take
one
deep
breath
in
and
let
it
out
and
let's
pray
creator
god.
D
We
thank
you
for
this
gathering
today
we
ask
you
to
bless
each
one
of
us
and
all
that
we
bring
to
this
moment.
We
especially
pray
for
our
young
people
and
the
many
and
varied
gifts
that
they
possess:
their
energy
and
courage,
their
sense
of
justice
and
self-control
their
desire
to
lead
and
willingness
to
listen.
We
pray
for
them
all
all
of
these
young
people
growing
up
in
this
unsteady
and
confusing
world.
We
ask
for
that.
D
You
not
shield
them
from
difficulty,
but
that
you
give
them
strength
to
face
it,
not
that
you
protect
them
from
making
mistakes,
but
that
they
may
be
able
to
learn
from
them.
We
know
their
lives
will
not
be
easy.
They
have
not
been
easy
thus
far,
but
we
pray
that
you
give
them
a
steadfast
sense
of
courage
and
a
fierce
resilience
that
no
matter
what
happens
they
gonna
be.
Alright,
they
are
going
to
be
all
right,
not
just
for
the
rest
of
this
event,
but
for
the
rest
of
their
lives.
D
B
D
We
get
to
the
event
of
the
morning,
and
that
is
to
have
our
young
men
walk
before
us
in
their
right
of
passage.
We
have
wonderful
people
who
have
taken
a
big
role
in
getting
these
young
men
to
where
they
are
at
this
point
and
I
want
now
to
introduce
to
you
the
man
who
is
largely
responsible
for
this
event
and
most
of
the
other,
far-reaching,
good
events
that
happen
in
this
city.
He
is
a
friend
he
is
a
good
man.
He
is
his
honor,
the
mayor
of
the
city
of
Boston,
mr.
Marty
Walsh,.
E
She
is
an
incredible
spiritual
leader
in
our
city,
and
so
much
I
want
to
welcome
everyone
here
today
from
all
over
the
country.
This
is
so
exciting.
I
know
when
I
was
talking
to
Colin
Harris
for
you
here
in
a
few
minutes.
He
was
talking
to
me
the
other
day
about
about
the
conference.
He
was
gonna,
be
big
and
I
said:
okay,
this
guy.
No,
it's
gonna
be
big
egos.
No,
no,
it's
gonna
be
real.
Big
and
I
walked
in
the
room.
E
I'm
like
it's
gonna,
be
big,
so
I
want
to
I
want
to
congratulate
everyone
here
today,
I
want
to
thank
Conan
and
my
brother's
keeper
Boston
chapter.
We
started
at
President
Obama
when
he
announced
that
he
actually
was
at
a
fundraiser
here
in
Boston
raising
money
for
the
Democratic
Party,
and
he
was
talking
to
the
funders
in
the
room
that
day
about
creating
this
new
program
and
I
was
listening
to
him.
I
happened
to
be
there
and
he
didn't
have
a
name
necessarily
for
at
that
point.
I
went
in
the
back
and
I
said
mr.
E
president,
whatever
you
start
worrying
in
Boston
and
then
when
he
made
the
announcement
for
my
brother's
keeper,
I
was
invited
down
to
DC
and
we
are
all
in
and
my
brother's
keeper
it's
an
incredible
incredible
program
here
in
our
city
and
around
the
country.
I,
don't
have
any
ones
here
from
Philly,
but
Michael
Nutter
was
talking
about
how
he's
gonna
have
the
best
one.
E
All
this
stuff
I
said:
I'm
gonna
have
a
better
one
than
you
Michael,
so
don't
worry
about
it
then
he
left
so
what's
going
on
and
you
got
lucky
in
the
Superbowl
by
the
way.
But
anyway
we'll
see
this.
You
will
see
this
year
anyway,
we're
not
here
to
talk
about
Patriots,
no
I,
honestly,
all
kidding
aside
Thank
You
Philly
for
being
here.
Thank
you
for
every
city
in
America.
That's
represented
here.
E
Thank
you,
my
own
city,
here,
Boston,
there's
some
great
people,
you're
gonna,
hear
some
unbelievable
speakers
in
a
little
while
today
on
the
great
work
that's
going
on
and
when
they
come
up
here
and
they
talk,
it's
not
words.
It's
actually
action
and
many
of
the
people
that
are
gonna
be
up
here
at
this
podium
talking
a
little
while
have
been
doing
this
work
a
long
long
time
and
it's
it's
in
Boston,
it's
coming
together
to
the
young
young
men
here.
Thank
you
for
being
with
us
today.
Thank
you
for
coming
to
the
city.
E
I
know
that
you're
gonna
have
an
event
sometime
sometime
later
on
at
Suffolk
University
and
do
some
great
things
thank
you
for
for
sharing
and
helping
us
making
sure
we
continue
to
move
forward
in
America,
we're
also
joined
by
the
superintendent.
That's
here,
dr.
Cheng,
Ron,
Walker,
Rondo,
chief
education.
E
Here
we
go
we're
all
set
now:
I
went
up,
but
I
do
what
I
want
to
welcome
everyone
to
the
twelfth
annual
gathering
and
we're
excited
to
bring
this
back
home
where
it
started
in
2007.
This
gathering
is
all
about
momentum
as
everyone.
This
room
knows
it's
about
recognizing
the
success
of
young
men
of
color
in
the
success
of
cities
that
are
linked
forever.
They
are
all
one
in
the
same
something
that's
really
important
here
in
Boston.
E
We
like
to
be
thorough
here
in
Boston,
so
anyway,
as
I
was
saying
in
our
school
system,
we
have
56,000
kids
enrolled
in
our
public
school
system.
The
vast
majority
of
those
kids
are
kids
of
color,
nearly
40%
of
the
kids
in
our
school
district,
a
black
and
Hispanic
boys.
Their
Scarlets
will
help
us
understand
our
past
and
better
understand
that
future
and
build
our
future.
E
The
kids
that
go
to
high
school
are
artists,
who
tell
the
story,
or
our
cities,
and
often
tell
the
stories
of
their
own
lives,
their
leaders,
who
are
ready
to
take
our
communities
to
new
heights.
These
are
the
young
people
that
are
working
to
ready
are
ready
to
lift
up
our
city.
So
how
do
we
make
sure
nothing
slows
down
the
momentum
of
our
young
people?
How
can
we
make
sure
that
they
know
that
they
are
embraced
and
empowered
by
their
schools,
their
neighborhood
and
by
their
government,
which
is
really
important?
E
Today,
in
Boston,
we've
taken
the
approach
based
on
mentorship
and
concrete
opportunities.
My
brother's
keeper
Boston
has
been
a
powerful
engine
of
change
so
far.
We've
added
thousands
of
mentors
and
thousands
of
summer
jobs
to
make
sure
that
young
boys
of
color
have
the
support
that
they
need
we'll
create
a
powerful
second
chance.
E
We're
partnered
with
Ruth's
cars
to
set
up
a
course
for
improving
the
outcomes
for
black
and
Latino
boys.
We've
launched
a
program,
a
mini
grant
program
to
support
grassroots
organizations,
making
real
differences
with
boys
of
color.
That's
true,
Conan
Harris's
shop;
well,
my
brother's
keeper,
and
really
not
the
big
organizations,
but
the
small
organizations
that
are
on
the
ground
doing
the
work
that
sometimes
get
overlooked
and
not
recognized.
E
We
have
our
high
school
graduation
rate
climbing
and
an
all-time
high
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
we
can
celebrate
that,
but
we
also
have
25
percent
of
our
kids
that
aren't
graduating
high
school,
so
we
have
work
to
do
there
and
I
expect
these
trends
to
continue
thanks.
The
initiatives
like
becoming
a
man,
ten
boys
and
success.
Mentors
I
know
that
Boston
in
in
our
city,
our
success
is
sprung
from
a
culture
of
teamwork.
E
We've
brought
more
people
into
the
conversation,
people
that
have
been
kind
of
talking
on
the
sides
trying
to
bring
them
into
a
larger
conversation.
We
have
great
partners
like
the
Boston
Public
Schools,
our
local
businesses,
our
business
community,
who
employ
over
7,000
young
people
in
the
summer
on
in
their
jobs
in
the
private
sector.
Our
colleges,
we
have
20
26
college
universities
in
the
city
of
Boston.
E
Most
of
them
are
partners
with
us
at
the
table,
seeing
how
they
can
help
we're
blessed
to
have
local
leaders
like
Conan,
Harris,
Ron,
Dorsey,
chief
education
and
other
folks
that
are
working
daddy.
A
smile,
so
you're
gonna
hear
in
a
few
minutes
doing
some
incredible
work.
What
I've
learned
is
I've
learned
about
what
the
ambassador's
mean
to
this
work.
They're
shown
us
that
this
isn't
strictly
about
young
men
of
color,
but
it's
about
the
soul
of
our
city,
something
that
we
need
to
continue
to
move
forward
and
continue
to
work
on.
E
We're
excited
to
share
this
progress
with
all
of
you
and
learn
about.
What's
working
in
our
cities,
I
became
mayor
in
2014,
not
long
after
I
became
mayor
Ferguson
the
incidents
in
Ferguson
happened.
Then
we
had
incidents
around
the
country
and
I
found
myself,
calling
all
the
mayors
of
the
different
countries
asking
how
I
can
help
and
it
made
us
in
Boston,
take
a
look
at
ourself
and
really
think
about.
What's
the
root
cause
of
what's
happening
in
this
country,
some
of
its
uncertainty,
some
of
its
fear
people,
the
newspaper
talks
about
violence
and
anger.
E
It
was
anger
there
there's
no
question
about
it,
but
I
thought
about
how
do
we
in
Boston
and
how
do
we
become
a
national
leader
in
moving
forward?
So
when
President
Obama
put
the
my
brother's
keeper
I
I
step
down,
because
I
could
hear
in
his
voice
that
first
time
he
spoke
about
a
program
that
he
was
gonna
create,
which
eventually
became
my
brother's
keeper?
He
was
talking
from
his
heart.
He
was
talking
from
his
experience.
He
was
talking
about
the
young
people
in
America.
That
didn't
know
where
to
go.
E
E
E
It's
my
obligation
and
all
of
us
in
this
room
and
many
other
people
in
our
cities
and
cities
across
America
to
continue
working
on
solutions
continue
to
move
forward,
continue
to
make
sure
that
the
young
men
that
are
here
today
have
opportunities
continue
to
make
sure
that
the
young
men
that
aren't
here
today
that
are
hanging
at
h-block
today
in
Boston
that
are
hanging
over
in
Bromley
Heath
housing
development.
Today
that
are
hanging
in
the
cities
that
really
seem
like
they
have
lost.
E
We
need
to
make
sure
collectively,
all
of
us
together
that
we
find
them
reach
out
to
them
and
let
them
know
there's
another
way.
I
want
to.
Thank
you
all
for
being
here
today.
I
hope
you
enjoy
the
city
and
I
know
that
you're
gonna
have
a
very
great
conference.
So
thank
you
for
doing
what
you
do
every
day.
God
bless.
D
Thank
You,
mr.
mayor,
we
have
several
other
speakers
I'm,
going
to
give
you
all
of
their
names
and
then
they'll
come
in
this
order.
I
can
tell
you
because
I
know
each
of
them
that
they
are
all
passionate
men.
They
are
all
men
who,
indeed,
as
the
mayor
said,
they
had
not
just
talked
the
talk.
They
walk.
The
walk
I
am
introducing
in
the
order
that
they
will
appear
superintendent,
Tommy
Chang
of
the
Boston
Public
School
Department
Thaddeus
miles.
Who
is
the
board
chair
of
my
brother's
keeper,
Conan
Harris?
D
F
Morning,
Thank
You,
Reverend,
Walker
and
Thank
You,
mayor
Walsh,
for
your
comments.
Mara
Walsh's,
has
unwavering,
has
an
unwavering
commitment
for
young
people
in
this
city
and
often
joke
mayor.
Walsh
is
the
second
most
popular
man
in
the
city
after
David
Ortiz,
when
he
walks
into
a
classroom.
The
young
people
freak
out
and
I
will
often
whisper
to
a
young
person.
Hey
it's
not
the
first
time
you
met
the
mayor
and
they
literally
tell
me.
No
no
I
saw
him
last
weekend
at
the
park.
F
He
is
with
young
people
all
the
time
and
you
could
see
the
love
he
has
for
young
people
each
and
every
day.
I
want
to
thank
Ron,
Walker,
dr.
Spooner,
the
rest
of
the
calls
back
organizing
team
for
choosing
Boston
the
birthplace
of
Education
to
have
this
conference
again.
I
wanna
thank
the
bps
team
doctor
Makeba
McCurry,
dr.
Colin,
Rose
school
community,
Manor
school
committee,
member
Alex
over
Davila,
all
the
principal's
headmasters.
All
our
teachers
are
educators
for
being
here
and,
most
importantly,
to
the
young
men
from
Austin
Public
Schools
for
being
here.
F
Thank
you.
I
wanted
to
just
take
a
few
moments
to
do.
Some
reflections
to
the
adults
in
this
room
and
then
some
thoughts
for
the
young
people
in
this
room
I
want
to
first
start
off
with
the
adults.
Thank
you
for
making
time
to
come
to
Boston
this
week.
This
work
that
we
all
do
is
not
easy.
Two
of
the
key
themes
of
this
conference
are
liberation,
empowerment,
but
I
think
as
leaders
as
people
who
do
this
work
and
people
who
have
done
this
work
for
a
long
time.
F
F
Don't
think
I
understood
that
until
much
later
in
life
and
I
had
to
fight
that
tendency,
each
and
every
single
day,
I
literally
stare
at
the
mayor
in
the
morning
and
I
say
to
myself,
you
gotta
be
courageous,
Tommy,
but
rooms
like
this
affirm
this
and
sustain
this
morning.
I
did
not
have
to
wake
up
and
looked
at
them
here,
because
I
knew
I
was
coming
here.
F
F
Thank
you
for
showing
up
to
that
to
all
the
delts.
Thank
you
for
showing
up
again.
This
work
is
not
easier,
but
there's
rooms
like
this.
It
does
make
you
feel
easier
now
to
all
the
young
men.
F
Unfortunately,
I
don't
think
my
generation
is
going
to
solve
these
problems,
but
I
have
great
hope
that
your
generation
will,
because
I
have
seen
your
generation
are
all
ready
to
lead.
It
is
your
generation
that
will
truly
move
the
needle
and
help
us,
hopefully
get
closer
to
American
dream
that
all
men
are
created
equal
and
it's
a
dream
that
has
never
been
realized
so
to
all
the
young
people
in
this
room.
I
want
you
to
know
that
you
come
from
rich
cultures
of
resiliency
and
there's
greatness
within
all
of
you.
F
F
You
will
need
that
voice,
because
when
you
get
a
seat
at
that
table,
you
will
need
that
voice.
You
will
need
your
values
and,
as
a
friend
and
colleague
off
that
often
says,
if
you
don't
get
a
chair,
find
that
folding,
chair
and
squeeze
yourself
in
and
if
there's
no
folding
chairs
scream
from
the
outside.
F
F
G
Just
need
a
moment
to
look
at
this
sea
of
blackness
in
the
beauty
that
I
see
right
here.
It's
an
amazing
and
amazing
view
welcome
to
Boston
my
brother's
keeper,
a
city
Thank
You
mr.
man,
for
taking
up
the
challenge
not
just
around
my
brother's
keeper,
but
to
also
have
authentic
conversations
about
race
and
social
justice
in
this
city.
G
He
turned
one
and
he's
already
telling
me
what
to
do
and
as
a
single
father
I
definitely
understand
the
challenges
that
my
son
will
be
facing:
mass
housing
values
our
commitment
to
cultivating
leadership
among
our
youngest
and
most
vulnerable
residents.
Our
belief
is
that
our
opportunity
for
community
building,
self-reflection
and
teamwork
will
support
those
vulnerable
qualities
into
ones
of
future
leaders.
Today
we
come
together
to
learn
from
and
with
each
up.
Today
we
come
together
to
uplift.
G
Each
up
today
we
come
together
to
make
sure
that
we
do
better
for
our
young
black
and
brown
boys
and
men
as
a
father
and
a
grandfather
I
leave
you
with
two
quotes
by
Benjamin
Mays
that
every
black
person
and
young
men
should
keeping
their
2-level
first.
Every
man
and
woman
is
born
into
the
world
to
do
something
unique,
there's
something
distinctive.
If
he
or
she
doesn't
do
it,
it
will
never
be
done.
G
Let's
make
sure
that
we
keep
believers
in
the
lives
of
our
young,
black
and
brown
men
and
boys
and
I'd
like
to
introduce
you
to
a
believer.
A
person
has
helped
leave
my
brother's
keeper
in
this
city,
a
person
that
I
love
and
respect
the
person.
That's
always
there
for
the
black
men
and
boys
in
this
city,
Coenen
Harris.
H
H
It
was
so
important
for
me
to
do
that.
This
work
doesn't
get
done
by
myself.
It
only
happens
through
the
collective
and
it's
so
important
to
recognize
folks
that
do
this
work
every
day
and
when
we
made
the
call
to
build
out
my
brother's
keeper,
they
picked
up
the
phone
and
was
ready
to
get
to
work
as
soon
as
possible,
so
I.
Thank
you
I.
Thank
you,
I.
Thank
you.
H
I
want
to
also
thank
our
mayor,
who
has
decided
to
take
up
the
challenge,
but
has
decided
each
and
every
day
that
the
city
deserves
to
do
better
and
so
we'll
go
back
and
forth
and
challenge
one
another
how
that
gets
done.
But
ultimately
we
come
to
the
middle,
because
we
both
understand
that
when
we
went
somewhere
we're
doing
well,
but
we
got
a
long
way
to
go
and
we
need
to
make
sure
we're
putting
in
that
effort
every
day
so
I.
Thank
you
very
much.
Man.
H
I
also
want
to
recognize
our
president
of
Suffolk
University,
president
Kelly
I.
Thank
you
very
much
for
this
partnership.
As
you'll
see
the
young
men
that
are
walking
through
do
this
young
men
passage
coming
up.
One
of
the
things
that
is
so
important
is
to
recognize
our
partners
is
that
President
Kelley
came
and
says
she
wanted
to
be
a
partner,
and
she
didn't
come
and
say
pay
me.
She
didn't
come
and
say
here
here
go
to
price.
H
H
My
brother,
my
big
brother,
I,
remember
being
a
city
hall
I'm
in
my
office
and
brother
Ron
Walker
gave
me
a
call
said
brother
I
want
to
sit
down
and
have
a
meeting
with
you,
and
you
know
when
Ron
Walker
calls.
We
pick
up
the
phone
he's
our
big
brother
and
we
love
him
so
and
so
I
picked
up
the
phone
and
we
sat
down,
and
he
said
brother
I'm,
really
thinking
about
doing
this
year's
Cole's
bark
in
Boston.
H
It
isn't
all
clear,
there's
an
old
sign,
but
Boston
is
a
city
where
we
started
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
Boston
sees
our
progress
and
where
we're
going
and
I
said
brother,
let's
do
it.
Let's
get
this
work
together.
The
beauty
of
us
experiencing
this
work
together
is
because
it
could
starts
in
our
heart
and
then
it
comes
out.
This
is
not
nothing
about
data.
This
is
not
nothing.
The
dad
is
all
there.
We
all
know
the
numbers.
This
is
about
understanding.
H
What's
in
our
heart,
to
make
sure
that
our
young
people
know
that
we
stand
enough
for
them.
That's
what
this
is
about.
The
beauty
of
this
room
is
that
it
is
full
people
came
here
today
because
they
wanted
to
make
sure
that
they're
doing
their
part
so
I.
Thank
you.
I
want
to
give
you
a
round
of
applause.
H
H
J
For
those
who
understood
what
I
said,
can
you
raise
your
hand,
amen
good
for
you?
This
is
a
place
where
we
will
celebrate
diversity
and
bilingualism
for
those
who
did
not
understand.
That's
okay,
I'll
translate
for
you.
Okay
I'll,
give
you
the
English
version,
I'm
honored,
to
come
before
you
as
the
first
woman
latina
chair
of
the
board
of
directors,
to
welcome
you
to
the
12th
annual
COEs
about
gathering
of
leaders
in
Boston.
J
Thank
you
on
behalf
of
the
board.
I
welcome
you
to
this
event,
and
thank
you.
Thank
you
for
your
support
of
the
organization
of
our
executive
director,
Ron
Howard
and,
more
importantly,
for
your
commitment
to
the
liberation,
the
empowerment
and
the
education
of
boys
and
young
men
of
color
as
a
very
proud
mother
of
a
boy
and
a
girl
of
color
I
would
argue.
J
There
is
no
more
important
time
for
us
to
come
together
to
focus
not
just
on
the
academic
success
of
our
children
of
color,
but
on
their
social
and
emotional
development,
their
safety
and
their
well-being.
We
have
to
remember
that
a
promising
future
for
our
children
and
their
liberation,
empowerment
and
education
also
can't
happen
without
their
health,
both
their
physical
and
emotional
health.
In
too
many
cases,
basic
health
and
mental
health
needs
go
unnoticed
or
unmet
learning
is
undermined,
futures
become
bleak.
J
I
am
so
proud
of
COEs
Box
many
accomplishments
over
the
last
12
years.
How
it
has
been
a
vocal
advocate
around
the
unique
needs
and
strengths
of
young
men
of
color?
This
is
an
organization
where,
at
its
heart,
at
its
core
is
ensuring
equity,
empowerment
and
opportunity
for
young
people
by
investing
in
you
in
the
development
of
leaders
like
you
who
fight
for
the
success
of
our
boys
and
young
men
of
color
across
the
United
States
on
a
daily
basis.
J
But
our
progress,
our
goals
and
even
our
values
have
come
under
attack,
and
we
must
continue
to
stand
together
to
advance
the
principles
of
social
justice
that
have
been
passed
down
from
generation
to
generation.
Now
is
the
time
to
embrace
the
wisdom
of
the
old,
the
innovation
of
the
young
and
to
use
all
of
the
tools
available
to
us
to
demand
the
kind
of
future
that
all
of
our
children
are
entitled
to.
J
Hos
Bach
has
been
a
champion
bringing
us
together
as
villagers
to
protect
and
nurture
our
greatest
investment.
Our
most
prized
gifts,
our
youth,
but
COEs
Bach
cannot
continue
in
this
role.
Without
us,
it
counts
on
the
generous
contributions
of
donors,
both
philanthropic
and
individual
donors,
to
continue
to
make
a
difference
school
by
school
district
by
district
state
by
state.
J
So
I'm
here
to
make
a
plea.
We
need
your
support
now
more
than
ever,
we're
excited
right
today
at
the
opening
to
announce
the
new
cause,
Bach
defending
the
village
campaign,
which
will
propel
the
organization
forward
and
allow
us
to
reach
new
regions
of
the
country,
including
three
new
regional
gatherings
in
Massachusetts,
North,
Carolina
and
Texas
in
the
coming
months.
J
We
have
stood
and
we
stand
daily
for
the
success
of
our
young
people.
We
must
do
the
same
for
COEs
Bock.
We
have
set
a
bold
goal
of
$50,000
that
we
hope
to
reach
by
the
end
of
this
gathering.
That's
right!
That's
right
where
we
need
to
queue
up
our
a
little
visual.
If
we
each
in
this
room
with
800
people
gave
66
dollars
each,
we
would
reach
our
goal
today.
J
But
let
me
be
clear:
I
won't
minimize
that
I
know
that
many
of
you
for
many
of
you
that
may
be
too
much.
I
am
NOT
going
to
minimize
that,
but
no
gift
is
too
small.
We
welcome
gifts
of
all
kinds
and
sizes.
Your
support
would
go
a
long
way
towards
bolstering
this
movement.
We'd
like
to
ask
you
to
go
right
now.
You
know
how
we
ask
you
to
put
away
your
phones.
Well,
I'm,
gonna.
Ask
you
to
take
out
your
phones.
J
Please
consider
giving
now,
and
even
if
you
can't
now
bookmark
the
page
put
it
on
your
Facebook
share
it
on
all
kinds
of
social
media.
You
know,
I,
don't
even
know
what
they
are,
so
I
can't
even
say
them,
but
we're
gonna
keep
you
appraised
throughout
the
conference
of
the
progress,
because
it's
our
progress
and
it's
the
way
we
need
to
demonstrate
our
support
of
this
organization
that
has
really
been
behind
behind
us
and
and
and
with
us
in
this
battle
before
I
get
off
the
stage.
J
J
His
friendship
he
has
made
this
his
life's
mission
and
we
are
so
eternally
grateful
his
vision.
His
grit
is
is
just
really
unsurpassed.
We
also
want
to
really
thank
from
the
bottom
of
our
hearts,
his
hard-working
staff,
particularly
dr.
Sandra
Spooner.
We
know
we
know
that
no
one
person
can
do
this
alone
right.
We
I
also
want
to
thank
our
dedicated
board
members
and,
if
v,
the
board
members
would
whoever
is
in
the
room,
just
really
stand
and
we'd
like
to
really
acknowledge,
acknowledge
you
please
rise.
Thank
you.
J
For
sharing
your
gifts
and
talents,
your
time
and
energy,
and
how
much
you
contribute?
They
don't
go
unnoticed
and,
finally,
to
our
diverse
and
committed
partners
and
to
our
generous
funders
for
all
the
health
that
has
gone
into
not
just
organizing
this
event,
but
for
the
perseverance
that
all
have
shown
through
the
many
ups
and
downs
that
are
inevitable,
with
the
movement
as
big
as
important
and
as
this
one.
So
without
further
ado,
I'd
like
to
welcome
the
leader
of
our
movement,
Ron
Walker,.
K
Good
morning,
everyone
now,
at
the
end
of
my
message,
I'm
gonna,
do
a
little
stand
little
call-and-response,
because
I
want
the
person
way
way
in
the
back.
The
person
I'm
looking
at
right
now
and
they're
here,
I'm
gonna,
say
and
we're
gonna
all
do
something
together.
First
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
being
here
today.
K
This
is
momentous.
This
is
history.
This
is
breakthrough
gathering
over
800
people
over
200
young
men
coming
together
to
do
this
movement
work.
This
is
not
moment
work.
This
is
movement,
work
and
I'm,
so
thankful
that
I
can't
even
express
how
thankful
I
am.
It
is
because
of
the
ancestors
who
came
before
me
that
I
stand
here,
it's
because
of
Solomon
and
Delores
Walker.
K
My
two
parents,
who
instilled
in
me
the
value
of
education,
although
they
were
limited
in
their
opportunities
to
get
one
so
I'm
very
proud,
as
their
son
to
bring
forth
today
a
few
words
first
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
all
the
partners.
I
think
brother
Conan
said
you
know
it
came
in.
That's
it
Ben.
Let's
do
something
and
he
was
ready,
willing
and
able,
and
you
know
he
stands
tall.
You
could
tell
by
his
message
that
he
stands
tall.
K
You
can
tell
by
his
message
that
he's
liberated
and
he's
empowered
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor.
I
want
to
thank
Thaddeus,
you
know
who
always
also
equally
strong
and
purpose
conviction.
This
is
the
kind
of
folks
that
we
all
need
to
be
around
as
my
sister
Gloria
ladson-billings
they're
part
of
my
squad
now,
and
if
you
remember
the
word
sister
Gloria
here.
K
Part
of
my
squad,
you
know,
because
you
can't
do
this
work
by
yourself
and
if,
if
you're
working
on
movement
work,
there's
so
many
folks
who
want
to
distract
you
from
doing
movement
work,
so
it's
got
to
be
folks
who
got
you
back.
I
want
to
thank
my
board
and
all
that
they're
doing
this
campaign.
I
believe
we
can
raise
this
$50,000,
don't
you
you
know.
K
Because
when
you
think
about
see,
I
think
a
lot
of
folks,
sometimes
getting
twisted
and
confused,
they
see
this
big
Grand
Hotel,
you
know
see
what
COEs
buck
must
have
money.
You
know
how
else
could
they
afford
to
do
this?
Well,
I'm
gonna
tell
you
we
couldn't,
but
because
of
the
generosity
of
our
sponsors
and
all
the
sponsors
that
are
listed
here.
Ge
Foundation,
Liberty
Mutual
Nelly
made
Boston
compact,
Harlan
and
night
eastern
bank,
the
Boston
foundation,
Red
Sox
foundation,
better
lessen
minority
caucus,
SR
I
forward
promise
campaign
for
blackmailers
team.
K
K
Talk
before
came
from
a
former
student
of
mine,
Kevin
Johnson,
now
incarcerated
for
life
for
allegedly
murdering
a
drug
dealer
in
Philadelphia
Kevin
was
in
my
ninth
grade
class,
bright,
brilliant,
looked
a
lot
like
a
lot
of
these
young
men,
you'll
see
when
I
left,
Philadelphia
1978
come
to
Boston
I
said
Kevin
stay
on
the
right
Road.
He
said
mr.
walk
I've
got
it.
Don't
worry
about
me!
I'm
cool
years
later,
I
get
a
letter
when
I
was
principal
in
Cambridge
in
the
year
2006
from
the
penitentiary,
upstate
Pennsylvania
opening
the
letter
up.
K
He
said
mr.
Walker,
you
won't,
you
won't
believe
you
may
have
forgotten.
Who
I
am,
but
this
is
Kevin
writing
units
letter
and
I'm.
Sorry
I'm
disappointing
you
I'm
incarcerated,
for
something
I
did
not
do
life
without
parole,
but
mr.
Walker
I'm
still
getting
an
education
and
I'm
working
in
the
penitentiary.
School
Kevin
and
I've
been
writing
for
nearly
28
30
years.
K
So
I
flew
to
Philadelphia
drove
upstate,
because
all
these
prisons
always
upstate
and
drove
and
saw
Kevin
Johnson
for
the
first
time
in
20
years
after
we
shed
tears
and
broke
broke,
bread
I
presented
a
message
to
100
black
and
brown
men,
but
I
followed
a
young
man
who
was
the
valedictorian
after
I
heard
what
he
said.
My
message
changed
because
he
said
the
following:
he
said,
although
I'm
incarcerated,
although
I'm
a
felon
I
may
never
see
the
light
of
day
I'm
free
because
I'm
educated
and
that
message
was
my
tipping
point.
K
That
message
was
my
call
to
action.
That
was
the
creator
saying
now.
Is
your
time
stand
up
time
for
you
to
do
something?
And
so
you
know
at
that
age,
where
many
of
us
were
retiring,
those
that
was
60
years
old
and
I
got
that
call,
but
I
remember:
Moses
was
80
and
he
had
five
excuses.
I
didn't
have
five
and
so
I
answered
the
call
12
years
ago
and
COEs
bop
was
born
and
two
things
happen.
One
rosa
smith,
who
was
president
2-shot
foundation
at
the
time,
didn't
know
me
from
a
can
of
paint.
K
I
went
in
and
said:
Rosa
I
got
a
vision.
Can
you
help
me?
She
says
after
I
said
and
can
tell
he
convinced
her.
He
said,
give
me
$10,000
and
see
what
you
can
do
with
this
come
and
that
$10,000
was
a
start,
but
so
little
and
grow
I
saw
we're
asking
you
for
$66,
and
so
from
that
we
went
to
Wheelock,
College
and
I
met
somebody
else
and
this
person,
let
me
come
into
her
office.
She
said
I
said
well.
I
wanted
to
do.
K
He
said
I
want
you
to
do
what
you
do,
he
would
hear,
will
at
Wheelock
College
in
Boston
and
I
want
you
to
do
it
for
three
years,
because
we
like
ours
at
the
time
was
teaching
teachers,
mostly
white
they're,
going
to
the
inner
city.
He
said
I
want
them
to
know
how
to
work
with
black
and
brown
boys,
and
so
that
person
is
here
today
she's
the
liberator,
because
if
it
wasn't
for
her
I
wouldn't
be
here,
Jackie
Jenkins
Scott.
Would
you
please
come.
K
L
Good
morning,
I'm,
usually
not
without
words,
but
I
am
without
words
this
morning.
It's
an
honor
to
be
here
with
you.
We
all
stand
on
great
shoulders.
We
wouldn't
be
here
if
it
wasn't,
for
those
who
paved
the
way
for
us,
and
my
only
message
is,
we
all
do
what
we
can
do
and
I
had
an
opportunity.
I
was
put
in
a
row
and
I
knew
that
this
man
was
going
to
do
great
things
for
black
and
brown
boys
and
I
was
honored
and
privileged
to
have
just
a
very
small
role.
K
K
Education
is
for
liberation,
I,
don't
know
about
you,
but
I
don't
want
to
comply.
I,
don't
know
about
you,
but
I
want
to
be
liberated
the
cover
of
this
book.
My
intention
has
great
liberators:
the
Lord
dolores
huerta,
before
for
immigrants,
migrant
rights,
Frederick,
Douglass
I
to
be
wells.
If
you
know
your
history,
research,
those
folks
but
they're,
walking
liberators
among
us
right
now,
and
one
of
the
things
I
want
to
always
end
and
I'm
gonna.
Ask
you
to
stand
when
I
say
a
question
I'm
opposed
to
you.
Where
are
my
liberators?
K
K
Now
gives
me
great
deal
of
pleasure
and
honor
this
young
brother,
he
came
up
to
me
was
nine
years
ago,
brother
and
said
hey
by
the
Walker
I
want
to
work
with
you,
because
this
is
this
more
we
can
do
and
but
for
the
Kemal
Patara.
We
have
our
rite
of
passage
program
that
we
did
successfully
in
Philadelphia
and
brother
Kemal
brother
Bumi
Sammy,
with
over
here
brother
boom.
Raise
your
hand
there.
We
go
brother
boom,
you
Samuel,
and
so
now
is
the
time
and
kamyelle
you
take
over
from
here.
Do
what
you
do.
M
Greetings
closed
box
family,
it's
an
honor
to
be
standing
with
you,
this
12th
annual
gathering
of
leaders
and
in
the
spirit
of
our
Creator
and
our
ancestors
opened
up
with
our
mission,
which
is
to
guide
our
young
men
to
actualize
their
missions.
And
today
we
set
the
stage
with
the
walk
of
integrity.
Where
you'll
see
our
young
men
in
the
demonstration
of
their
walk,
the
attributes,
the
qualities
and
they're
developing
missions
start
to
make
a
declaration
today,
and
that
declaration
is
to
beat
men.
M
That
declaration
is
to
be
men
of
honor
to
be
men
of
integrity
to
men.
That
will
make
a
difference
within
our
families
and
our
communities
in
our
world,
and
in
order
to
do
that,
we
would
like
to
do
that
in
a
very
indigenous
way,
because
we
once
we
recognize
we
once
we
were
bought
here,
we
were
robbed
of
many
of
the
aspects
of
our
culture
and
our
identity
and
stripped
away
from
our
rituals
and
our
norms.
M
Those
activating
practices
that
empower
us,
those
activating
practice
that
had
us
living
as
liberated,
unified,
cohesive
communities,
with
structures
and
norms
to
be
able
to
deal
with
our
successes
and
to
continue
to
work
through
our
challenges
in
our
wounds
so
to
open
up.
We
would
like
to
introduce
been
kadhi
dance
and
drum.
M
M
Each
of
these
rhythms
are
sacred
and
they
have
meaning
that
played
in
intentionally
for
invoking
a
certain
type
of
a
presence,
and
so
today,
in
honor
of
our
young
men,
making
this
declaration
and
making
this
statement
through
their
walk
of
integrity
in
a
tradition
of
a
processional
coming
into
a
community
context
where
the
love
is
here,
the
affirmation
is
here:
the
strategies
are
being
developed,
but
they're,
not
the
only
ones
that
are
going
through
an
initiation.
Educators
are
on
a
path
to
that.
They
have
to
touch
their
authentic
selves.
Deep
speaks
too
deep.
M
M
So
we're
talking
about
true
liberation.
Yes,
we
have
conditions
outside
of
us
that
impact
some
of
the
fear
that
we
have
and
in
rites
of
passage
with
these
young
men.
Our
experience
that
sacred
tradition
that
marks
the
transition
into
trance
fate
of
transformation
and
the
becoming
of
someone
of
becoming
a
mission
of
becoming
in
alignment
with
your
purpose.
That's
what
we're
here
to
do,
and
as
these,
what
these
young
men
are
here
to
Uncle.
M
My
Uncle
Ben
is
the
war-horn
is
the
call
to
action.
It
is
calling
us
to
be
dutiful.
It's
be
calling
us
to
be
responsible.
It's
calling
us
to
take
our
mission
in
the
high
cause
of
our
community
and
to
be
able
to
go
back
and
contribute
our
gifts,
our
talents,
our
purpose
for
the
betterment
of
the
community.
So
our
declaration
here
today
and
the
statement
that
we
are
making
is
coming
from
antiquity
to
the
present.
We
are
people
of
the
past
living
in
the
present
moving
towards
the
future
Uncle.